How does it affect individuals with the disease?

As mentioned earlier, HIV gradually exhausts the body's ability to combat the virus. 

A single HIV viral particle known as a virion is surrounded by the viral envelope which contains the proteins gp120 and gp41. 

The major steps in the HIV infection and replication cycle are: 

- Attachment 

- Entry 

- Reverse transcription 

- Integration 

- Protein processing and maturation. 

The gp120 protein binds to the CD4 receptor that is present on T-helper cells. Once the virus enters the T-helper cell, it uncoats and the viral RNA undergoes reverse transcription to become proviral DNA which is then transported into the T cell nucleus. HIV integrase enzyme then incorporates the proviral DNA into the T-helper cell genome and activates the provirus. Polyproteins are then expressed and this gets cleaved by HIV protease enzyme and virions bud from the host cell. Macrophages play a crucial role in HIV infection and are the first cells infected by HIV.

Some symptoms of HIV include: 

- Memory loss 

- Rapid weight loss 

- Tiredness 

- Diarrhea. 

The long term side effects of HIV are:

- Lactic Acidosis (building up of lactate) 

It can cause muscle aches to liver failure.

- Lipid abnormalities (increase in cholesterol or triglycerides)

- Insulin resistance (lead to diabetes) 

- Decrease in bone density (lead to osteoporosis and easy bone fractures). 

HIV can develop into AIDS making it harder for the body to fight off infections and diseases.